**7.2. MICA in different species after treatment with OC mixture**

From Table 8 it appears evident that the carrier of OC mixture (DMSO) confounds the evaluation of the responses of the cells to the treatments, as previously demonstrated in other studies [15, 43].


**Table 8.** Mean values of immunofluorescence of MICA revealed in cultured fibroblasts of different species treated with OC mixture. The immunofluorescence is expressed in index numbers respect to solvent control. Different colour of box is related to different increase of this protein.

**Figure 8.** A-C: Immunofluorescence (AUF/nucleus) of MICA in fibroblast cells of sperm whale (PMAS1).DAPI and Alexa Fluor 594 (Intensity 200ms) images of DMSO and the five OC mixture treatments (A); Nonane and three flame retardant treatments (B) and Acetone and three PAH treatments (C).

Only the sperm whale demonstrated a clear inductive effect on MICA due to OCs, compared to DMSO (Figure 8A). In fibroblasts of killer whale (MOO12) and striped dolphin (RT23) no dose caused an increase of the MICA with respect to the carrier (DMSO). A dose dependent induction of MICA was present in sperm whale (PMAS1), a bell-shaped response was present in Bryde's whale (MBE3) and in long-beaked common dolphin (MDC12) while discontinuous induction response was showed by fin whale (RT25).
